Does polycystic ovary syndrome start in childhood?

Abstract

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), the most frequent endocrinopathy in reproductive-aged women, represents a multifactorial nosologic entity considering its pathogenesis and clinical repercussions. PCOS is characterized mainly by hyperandrogenemia and anovulation, while insulin resistance has been established as a key player in the pathophysiology of the syndrome. The natural course of PCOS appears to originate in fetal life and factors of the intrauterine environment have been incriminated in the early pathogenesis of the syndrome. The clinical picture of PCOS becomes manifest in the peripubertal period, unfolds as patients enter later stages of life and may change over time.